Hanover. Lower Saxony's Integration Minister Andreas Philippi (SPD) has called for swift reforms to federal integration policy ahead of the Integration Ministers' Conference. Speaking on Tuesday, he demanded the immediate reversal of the suspension on integration courses imposed by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
Germany's integration crisis deepens as language courses face abrupt cuts
"This backward step in integration policy harms our businesses, the labor market, and ultimately the entire country," Philippi stated. To secure its future, Germany needs 400,000 immigrants each year who are willing to live and work here.
The minister criticized the freeze, warning that language course providers can no longer plan ahead, instructors are losing work, and newcomers face longer waits to begin classes.
Without sufficient German skills, he argued, finding employment becomes far more difficult—or even impossible—making it significantly harder for companies to fill vacant positions. He also condemned plans to eliminate independent asylum procedure counseling, calling it counterproductive, as such services are vital for guiding applicants and ensuring acceptance of decisions.
Lower Saxony's proposals for the conference include expanded language support for immigrant women, the introduction of a nationwide quality certification for private placement agencies, legally mandated language mediation in social services, and the development of a cross-departmental anti-racism strategy for the labor market.
Philippi emphasized that federally funded integration courses are the cornerstone of social participation and must receive stable, long-term financing.
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